Ball rocketing and catching device



Oct. 26, 1937. E. J. STEWART 2, 7,

BALL ROCKETING AND CATCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12,1957

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 v. UNITED STAT PATENT OFFICE half to Harry E.

Application August 12,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a ball rocketing and catching device and has special reference to a toy in which a ball propelled into the air by a spring plunger is caught in an open top cage surrounding the plunger.

More particularly, this invention relates to a construction comprising a handle portion having a longitudinally extending bore opening into an outer end thereof and a longitudinal slot communicating with the bore, a plunger being slidable longitudinally in the bore and normally forced in a direction toward the outer open end by resilient or compression means. An open top cage is carried on the handle and is formedof spirally wound wire, at least one end convolution of the wire being contracted to frictionally engage the handle at the open outer end thereof for preventing displacement of the cage from the handle. A finger piece is preferably secured to the plunger and extends therefrom through the slot for manipulation outside of the handle, the end convolution of the wire of the open top cage covering the slot and engaging the finger piece to thus limit the outward movement of the plunger.

The construction contemplated by the'present invention is used with a ball, the ball being rocketed into the air and caught on its return by the player, or the ball is bounced against any wall, inside or outside, and caught in the cage of the device. An ordinary table tennis ball is preferably employed so as to not endanger furniture, pictures, walls and the like, and maybe played as a competitive game by two or more players in which one side will rocket the ball to be caught in the cage of the players on the opposite side.

The toy is designed to develop mental alertness, physical dexterity, and coordination of mind, eye and muscle, and requires the skillful use of thought, sight, and action all at once, providing ample and beneficial activity of mind and body. The present invention provides the above features at a very minimum of expense in equipment.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore,

' is to provide a toy of the character above described which is extremely simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and

efficient in operation.

Eller, Chicago, Ill.

1937, Serial No. 158,671

Figure 1 is a perspective view'of the construction embodying the features .of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional View thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device of the present invention comprises a handle portion l0 preferably formed 'ofa.-;single block of wood of a size and shape to comfortably fit the hand of a user. being of elongated cylindrical shapewith a closed lower endrounded so as not to be objectionable to the feel of the hand. It of course, to be understood that irregular grippingsurfaces may be provided as is usual in such types of equipment for playing'similar games without depart: ing from the spirit of this invention. The handle is preferably turned from a single block of wood to minimize expense in manufacture.

The handle 1 ll ispro-vided with a longitudinally extending bore H opening into an outer end thereof opposite to that of the closed rounded end. The bore is preferably formed by boring a hole with an ordinary drill into the single block of wood comprising the handle. A longitudinally extending slot I2 is cutinto theside of the handle and communicateswith the bore II the slot extending preferably from a lower portion of a the handle clear through to the open outer end for convenience in manufacture. An annular groove I3 is provided on the external peripheral surface of the handle i0 near the open vouterend thereof for receiving the end convolution of an open top cage [4. U

The open top cage l 4 is formed preferably of va single spirally wound wire'of which several end convolutions are contractedto frictionally engage the handle Ill, the end convolution-frictionally engaging the groove l3. The g-roove l3 may be annular, as shown, or may be.,of spiral formation simulating threads on which the contracted end convolutions may be screwed. Of course, the use of a; groove or grooves may be dispensed with entirely, the end convolutions gripping the fiat surface of the handle tightly and creating sufficient friction by reason of the tension of the wire, although in such event, it may be desirable to augment the frictional engagement with a bead on the outer end of the handle. The spiral wire cage is preferably of a substantially bell shape and may be varied in size and The handle is shown as shape so as to make it more or less diflicult, as

may be desired, to catch a ball therein.

A plunger I5 is disposed in the bore II and is slidable longitudinally therein, the plunger having preferably a slight clearance in the bore soas to permit relatively free movement therein. A compression spring I6 is disposed in the bore H at the closed end thereof, one end of the spring resting against the bottom of the bore and the other end of the spring ending against the inner end of the plunger l5 It is to be understood, of course, that various types of members may be substituted for the compression spring'to normally urge the plunger in a direction toward the outer open end in the bore.

A finger piece l1, preferably of metal, is secured to the plunger .15, the plunger preferably having an aperture therein toreceive one end of the finger piece in frictional engagement therewith. The finger piece may, however, be formed together with the plunger as a single piece in wood or metal, the free end of the finger piece extending through the slot l2 and therebeyond for manipulation by the thumb or finger of the user. The position of the finger piece with respect to the plunger is determined by the groove I3 and the necessary extent to which it may be founddesirable to extend the plunger beyond the end of the handle l0 since the finger piece engages the end convolution received in the groove to limit the outward movement of the plunger. It is, of course, necessary to permit the plunger to pass a substantial distance beyond the end of the handle for the purpose of rocketing the ball which initially rests in the cage on the end of the handle when the plunger is moved against the compression of the spring. In the operation of the construction incorporating the features of this invention, the handle formed of wood or metal is held in the hand of the user and the finger piece I! is moved in a direction against the tension of the compression spring l6 so that the ball or other missile employed rests on the upper end of the handle. The finger piece is thereafter released and the plunger strikes the ball resting on top or, atthe end of the handle to rocket the ball in the air, the plunger 15 being limited in its outward movement by the finger piece I! engaging the end convolution of the cage M which convolution rests preferably in the groove [3. The ball is caught on its return in the cage M which, as aforesaid, maybe of any suitable diameter to make itmore or less difficult for play. I 1

While but a single embodiment of this' invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art with out departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. In a device of the character described, a handle portion formed of a solid block of wood having a longitudinally extending bore opening into an outer end thereof and a longitudinally venting displacementof the cage from the handle h and for engaging said finger piece in one position thereof to limit the outward movement of said plunger. 1

2. In a device of the character described, a handle portion having a longitudinally extending bore opening into an outer end having a circumferential groove and a longitudinally extending slot communicating with said bore, a plunger slidable longitudinally in said bore, means for normally forcing said plunger in a direction toward said outer open end, a finger piecesecured to said plunger and extending through said slot for manipulation outside of said handle, and an open top cage formed from'a spirally wound wire, the end convolutions of the wire being contracted to frictionally engage said handle with at least one convolution thereof engaging "said groove at the open outer end thereof for preventing displacement of the cage from the handle and for engaging said finger piece in one position thereof to limit the outward movement of said plunger.

3. In a device of the character described, a handle portion having alongitudinally extending bore opening'into an outer end thereof, a plunger slidable longitudinally in said bore, means for normally forcing said plunger in a direction toward said outer open end, an open top cage formed of spirally wound wire, the end convolutions of the wire being contractedto frictionally engage said handle at the open end thereof for preventing displacement of the cage from the handle, and means on said plunger engaging said end convolution in one position of said plunger for limiting the outward movement thereof.

' 4. In a device ofthe character described, a handle portion having a longitudinally extending bore opening into an outer end thereof and a longitudinally extending slot communicating with said bore, a plunger slidable longitudinally In said bore, means for normally forcing said plunger in a direction toward said outer open end, an open top cage formed of spirally wound wire, the end convolutions of the wire being contracted to frictionally engage said handle at the open end thereof for preventing displacement of the cage from the handle, and means on said plunger ex-' tending through said slot for engaging said end convolutions of said wire in one position of said plunger to limit the outward movement thereof.

EDWARD J. STEWART. 

